Hi allHope that someone here can help, I have received from a well meaning contact in Trinidad alcohol preserved plant tissues... i should be more clear, he used vodka to preserve the plants I think. Anyway, i have taken 1/2 (>1g) of the leaf tissues and dried them in a vacuum oven, the rest remains in the alcohol. Both are in the freezer to prevent any further degradation, as if that is possible.

I am aware of protocols for DNA extraction from alcohol preserved insect tissues, our bug people here use it fairly reliably, but no one seems to know if there is a protocol for plant tissues that will work; or for that matter if CTAB of some variant might be effective? any suggestions thanksErik

-Orchidman-

Hi, Orchidman,

Actually, I forget what percentage of alcohol is in Vodka. Is it 70 something? I am not too sure. Anyway, I am using 95% ethanol to preserve my seaweed. It's okay but have to replace the ethanol one day after the preservation. I know that using 75% ethanol will not preserve the material that well. The main problem is on the ratio of the ethanol and the material you preserved. Should not put too many material into the ethanol. I used to preserve the seaweed in 100% ethanol and put it into -20C for a year. It works very well!!

Good luck.Frank

QUOTE (Orchidman @ Feb 2 2005, 01:03 PM)

Hi allHope that someone here can help, I have received from a well meaning contact in Trinidad alcohol preserved plant tissues... i should be more clear, he used vodka to preserve the plants I think. Anyway, i have taken 1/2 (>1g) of the leaf tissues and dried them in a vacuum oven, the rest remains in the alcohol. Both are in the freezer to prevent any further degradation, as if that is possible.

I am aware of protocols for DNA extraction from alcohol preserved insect tissues, our bug people here use it fairly reliably, but no one seems to know if there is a protocol for plant tissues that will work; or for that matter if CTAB of some variant might be effective? any suggestions thanksErik